Soph Lou's: July 2015

Ultra Base Corrector Palette by MAKEUP REVOLUTION

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

collab

FAVOURITE SUMMER NAIL POLISHES COLLAB WITH ELLIE

Sunday, July 26, 2015

lifestyle

MYPROTEIN.COM REVIEW*

Friday, July 24, 2015

Every year around summer time I try and keep fit and work out more than normal as I don't want to feel uncomfortable in my summer clothes as the weather gets hotter and hotter. The shorts and dresses come out of storage and I always try and tone up a bit for summer! This year I have just been doing the Fitness Blender Workout videos a few times a week as I find they are fantastic for quick cardio burst videos. Craig on the other hand has really got into working out and has been doing the Body Beast Course which is not for the faint hearted! Its full on muscle workouts to gain, well GAINS and he has done so well and I'm really proud!

After a few weeks working out though Craig started to realise he would need some sort of protein powder so did some research into the best protein and found MYPROTEIN.COM. With the slogan 'Fuel Your Ambition' they are in my opinion the best place for supplements to help fuel your workouts and help your muscles recover after working out! Ive been working with Jenny from My Protein and she very kindly sent me a care package full of their products to review!

The First thing in our parcel was this Women's Fuel Your Ambition Workout vest* which is so nice! Its such a soft material and its thin enough to workout in yet not see through at all which is what I always look out for with workout wear! I LOVE the slogan its so motivational and really makes me feel good when I work out wearing this vest. The quality as I said is so nice and would look great with black or grey workout leggings/shorts.

Craig's been working out in T-shirts so far and has found them to be a little restrictive when using weights etc so he was very pleased to receive this My Protein Men's Workout Vest*. Its thicker material than my vest but feels such great quality! Its a perfect fit also and they have a range of different sizes so there is a size for everyone.

So onto the Supplements, Our parcel also included the My Protein Peanut Butter in crunchy*, My Protein Impact Whey Isolate Protein Powder* in the flavour Chocolate Smooth, Glucosamine Sulphate tablets* and a My Protein Shaker*.

Protein is so important when working out as it builds and repairs your muscles. The My Protein Impact Whey Isolate is a very high quality powder which is available in so many flavours. It contains over 90% protein with low fat and carbohydrates per serving. Every 25g serving contains 22g of protein which is a great ratio compared to some proteins powders on the market. Craig chose the Impact Whey Isolate to review as he heard its was a better product for your stomach if you have a lactose intolerance. It can be mixed with either water or milk and its very smooth. The My Protein Powders also come with a handy scoop which is exactly 25g so its so easy to measure out your serving every time.

They have a load of flavours to choose from but Craig chose the Chocolate smooth flavour as he didn't want to risk trying a flavour he may not like but he absolutely loves this flavour and it mixes very well when put into the My Protein Shaker. Craig has tried a few protein powders in the past and this is by far the best tasting one he has had! It doesn't taste so artificially flavoured as some and I've had a sip also and its like a lush chocolate milkshake.

I love Peanut butter of any kind and this My Protein Peanut Butter knocks any others straight out the park! Its Amazing! We got the 1kg pot of the Crunchy Peanut butter and as you can see its lasted us around 3 weeks so far and I think we still have around 2 weeks left of this tub. Which is really good as Craig's been putting 1 dessert spoon twice a day in oats and milk and blending it all together as an extra weight gainer shake. So its really lasted a long time and its only £5.99. Its also 100% natural Peanut butter which means there are no added salts, sugars or palm oil which is great as you'll find many peanut butters are normally full of palm oil! This Peanut Butter is naturally high in protein so its a great snack which can be added to shakes or spread on toast. I've even had this on a bagel a few times and its delicious!

Now I know what your thinking, eeekkk tablets?? Now I'm not one to advertise tablets as I hate any sort of artificial weight loss or supplement in tablet form but these Glucosamine Sulphate Tablets are a different as they are all natural and are to help with your joints when your regularly exercising.

What My Protein Say about their Glucosamine Sulphate -

What is Glucosamine Sulphate?

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring nutrient and is a major component of cartilage which is the body tissue used to absorb impact and cushion our joints when we move.

Glucosamine Sulphate Benefits-

Each tablet provides excellent value for money,containing 1000mg of Glucosamine Sulphate. One capsule of Glucosamine sulphate can be easily swallowed at any time throughout the day.

Who is Glucosamine Sulphate Suitable for?

-Glucosamine Sulphate is suitable for anyone aiming to achieve optimum bone health, however, it is particularly important for those who are physically active and exercise on a regular basis as they are more prone to premature degeneration of their joints through repetitive movements and exercise.

Craig's been taking these once a day for 3 weeks now and he has seen a real difference in the amount his joints click during working out and after! I haven't taken these as I didn't want to waste them as I'm not working out as regularly as Craig and wouldn't feel as much of a benefit at the moment.

I think MyProtein are a brilliant website and I cannot wait to place another order with them! Their customer service is also great and they have an online chat service which is really helpful if you need any advise on what products are best for you and its not a bot so you know your actually talking to a real person, which is always a plus right? They also sell wheatgrass which if you regularly read my blog you know I'm addicted to the stuff AND its over half of the price I normally pay for double the amount which is phenomenal! I cant wait to order it and see what its like!

My Protein have given me and my readers an exclusive 10% off coupon code to use on all their products which is - BLOGGERSOPH. This code can be used on all orders and I do not get commission or paid when you use it! They also have a massive summer sale on at the moment which went live last night which is up to 70% off EVERYTHING! So be sure to take full advantage of the summer sale plus my code as they work together :)

Have you tried anything from My Protein? Let me know in the comments below!

*This post contains products sent for consideration of review. All opinions are 100% my own and honest!

Fashion

GLASSES SHOP.COM REVIEW

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

I've always worn the same style of sunglasses as I was always too scared to try another style unless it didn't suit me. So I've been stuck wearing my aviator style sunnies from Primark for years now.So when the Glassesshop.com offered me the chance to review a pair of their sunglasses, I just knew I had to pick a different style. I picked the Seine Wayfarer in Black* as these looked totally different to my usual style and being named after a Parisian river, I just had to pick these.

The Seine Wayfarer* are over sized semi round frames with a slight cat eye effect to the outer edge of the frame. They also have a tiny bit of gold on the side of the glasses which is very modern and classic looking. Its not too much to become tacky as I'm not normally a fan of gold accessories. They are really comfortable to wear and as the nose piece is build into the frame shape not a separate piece of plastic its so much more comfortable than my other glasses and don't leave as much as a glasses mark on my nose once I take them off.

What the GlassesShop.com say -
Seine Wayfarer is definitely suitable for fashionista and who wants to be trendy. The large wayfarer frame will be a perfect ornament for women because of their own classic black color.
The excellent plastic material wears comfortable and offer great UV rays prevention function.

My sunglasses arrived super quick in the post and they where very well packaged. Inside the mini parcel was this GlassesShop.com hard plastic case which had my sunglasses inside which is awesome as there's no need to buy a separate glasses case! Inside that my sunglasses came with a great handy cloth to keep my glasses clean and shiny. Im yet to take any pictures of me wearing these glasses but they do feature in my Vlog which you can check out by clicking here. Im wearing them at around 6.04 in the video :)

The GlassesShop.com have this amazing offer at the moment where you get your First Pair Free excluding shipping and handling fees. They also make prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses so if your after a new pair of cheap eyeglasses the Glassesshop.com is the place for you!

I also have a code for 50% off for my readers which is GSHOT50. I do not get paid when you use this code its simply for you to enjoy the glasses 50% cheaper.

Have you tried any glasses from the GlassesShop.com? Which style is your favourite, let me know in the comments

*This post contains products sent for consideration of review. All opinions are 100% my own and honest!

beauty

MAC VELVET TEDDY LIPSTICK DRUGSTORE DUPES

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

As everyone and their sister is jumping on the 'Kylie Jenner' Lipstick trend at the moment, I myself have been on the hunt for the perfect dupe of Velvet Teddy which is the MAC lipstick rumoured to be what Kylie uses. I don't own Velvet Teddy but I have swatched it and done some very extensive research into the shade, dupes and then swatched dupes to find even cheaper dupes of the dupes, If that makes sense. So that being said, I started my hunt for the Cheapest Dupe from the drugstore by swatching the lipstick which is supposed to be the most like Velvet Teddy, which is Rimmel London's Kate X lipstick in the shade 03. I then found two incredibly cheap dupes which can be purchased from Superdrug and Boots.

The first lipstick I found was by Natural Collection which is available in Boots and its called Biscuit (Bottom Swatch Above). Its a little lighter than the Rimmel Kate X 03 shade so not a total dupe AND its not a matte finish like the Rimmel Dupe and Velvet Teddy. But if your not a huge fan of matte finishes this one would be perfect for you! Its so nice on the lips and has amazing colour pay off! This lipstick is £1.99 so cheap but not my cheapest just yet.

The next lipstick which when I swatched it was like finding gold! Its Matte so exactly like Velvet Teddy by MAC and its £1. Its by MUA which is available in Superdrug and its in the shade Fawn Fancy (Top Swatch Above). Its exactly like same shade and Matte finish! I absolutely love the MUA lipsticks as they smell lovely and the longevity of their lipsticks is just incredible for the price.

There are a lot of Dupes on the high-street but I'm yet to swatch them all so Ill list them below with links so you can hopefully swatch them yourself when you find them in store.

Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick - Kate X 03 - £5.49

WET N WILD Mega Last Matte Lip Cover - Bare It All - £4.41

Essence XXXL Longlasting Lipgloss - Matte - Soft Nude - £2.00

Essence Longlasting Lipstick 06 Barely There - £2.30

MUA Fawn Fancy Matte - £1

Revlon Matte Lipstick - Mauve it over - £7.41

Natural Collection Lipstick Biscuit - £1.99

Let me know in the comments if you've found any other dupes which I've not mentioned? Id love to find some more!

SCOTTIE'S 4TH BIRTHDAY

Monday, July 20, 2015

URBAN HEALTH WHEATGRASS REVIEW

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Wheatgrass is something I've talked about many times on my blog and YouTube channel! I start everyday with a glass of cold wheatgrass as it gives me all the natural goodness I need to feel less stressed and hopefully boost my immune system so I don't feel unwell as often.

Urban Health are a brand which I love but not just because of their awesome wheatgrass but because well...look at their packaging! Its bright, modern and fun, featuring Colin the cow!

What Urban Health say...Wheatgrass Info

For years, humans have marvelled over the weird health and healing benefits of Wheatgrass. Our ancient ancestors grazed on it in order to maintain healthy digestion and promote general well-being. Now the green power drink is chugged by the celebrities, brainiacs, sports stars, Batman and a cow called Colin.

Wheatgrass Benefits

Many of the benefits of wheatgrass are anecdotal and people have reported feeling better in many ways. We'd love to understand how wheatgrass does this but medical science is only just beginning to understand the intricacies of the human body. We hope that one day there will be enough research to understand what wheatgreass really does, but until then we recommend trying it for yourself and seeing how you feel.

The packaging of the Urban Health Wheatgrass powder is so convenient. Each serving is individually packaged so you can easily pop these into your handbag and add to water on the go. They are perfect for traveling as the are individually packaged, theres no need to weigh out the powder making it super quick and easy to drink the urban health wheatgrass.

The urban wheatgrass is a bit more grassy tasting than others I've tried I'd that makes any sense at all as its a wheatgrass. But others have tasted more oaty and less grassy, that isn't a bad thing though and as the packaging states, it tastes great* (if your a cow*)

I love urban health's products for the simple fact that they are easy and quick and taste fresh. I would highly recommend wheatgrass for a beginner at drinking wheatgrass as its already ore weighed for you and there's no fuss! The Urban health wheatgrass is available from the Urban Health website for £17.99 for 30 days supply.

Let me know in the comments if you have tried wheatgrass and from which brand? Id love to try new wheatgrass.

bloggers

BLOGGERS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW...

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

I've been meaning to write one of these posts for ages as there are so many blogs I love to read at the moment. From new bloggers to all time favourite blogs of mine, I will link below blogs which I highly recommend you follow! Most of these blogs fall under the beauty, fashion, lifestyle categories but they all have their own individual style which I'm sure you'll love...

Serge in the City is a new blog written by my lovely friend Amy! Its a blog which covers all things beauty, travel and food related! Amy writes really well and her photos are great! If you are looking for a new interesting blog to follow be sure to follow Amy's on Bloglovin.

Rinica Writes is a blogger I've been following for ages now! She is such a lovely person also and her blog is always so honest and full of amazing product reviews, hauls and recommendations. She also posts about health and fitness which is always so motivational! She is also a skincare fanatic so she really knows her stuff when it comes to reviewing skincare.

Stephanie Eva is a fantastic blogger who I can gladly say is also my friend! She is from New England so I've not actual met Stephanie but she is so on my wave length and her humour is so funny! She makes amazing blog reviews and makeup posts AND also posts weekly vlogs on her YouTube channel which should not be missed! Defo go check out her blog and channel and subscribe!

Millie-Ann Bliss is the youngest blogger of this feature but she writes incredible well! Her blog is such a pleasure to read and she really knows her stuff when it comes to fashion and makeup! Her style is awesome and I think her blog is a MUST follow! Her dog is also super cute!

Lily Melrose is one of my all time favourite bloggers who I've followed for years and years! She has an amazing blog which is all about fashion, beauty and she also travels quite a bit so there's tons of travel posts also! She has a YouTube channel full of vlogs and makeup looks as well as hauls and reviews.

Charlotte Harvs has a fashion blog which will make you all need to buy a new wardrobe immediately! Her style is awesome and she currently lives in Spain so her photos will also make you green with envy. Charlotte also writes her own magazine which is called Fashion Fade, could she get any cooler?

I hope you all enjoy reading these blogs as much as I do and be sure to subscribe and follow them! If you do follow them leave them all a little comment letting them know you came from this post :)

Who are your favourite bloggers? Let me know in the comments I'd love to check them out myself!

beauty

SUMMER MAKEUP ROUTINE VIDEO

Monday, July 06, 2015

PRIMARK MINI HAUL | JULY 2015

Saturday, July 04, 2015

beauty

FESTIVAL ESSENTIALS

Saturday, July 04, 2015

Its festival season again here in the UK and although I am unfortunately not going to any festivals this year, I am enjoying watching them all on the TV and catching up on the BBC coverage. Radio 1's Big Weekend was a few weeks back with Glastonbury just last weekend so we really are in the middle of festival season. With Reading and Leeds right around the corner, I cannot wait to see all my favs bands perform!

So what essentials would I be sure to take to a festival for a weekend away? I haven't included the obvious things like a tent, money, clothes, food and a significant other or friends, but I have included my fav beauty, fashion and convenience things...

First things first, I would not be outside all day enjoying my favourite artists without a sunscreen on, this as boring as an essential is so important as the sun can be so dangerous and you can burn so easily. Its so easy to forget to protect your skin but you'll regret it when your lobster colour and in pain from sunburn afterwards. I'd go for a dry mist SPF 30.

Next I could not live without my Wetbrush so that would for sure be in my handbag! Festival hair can get a little Cray so the wetbrush is ideal for getting rid of knots and tangles easily, AND it can be used on wet hair so perfect for when it chucks it down with rain and your soaked! And of course there are no hairdryers at a festival so you'll need some dry shampoo to freshen up your hair, these handbag size So...? Dry Shampoo are amazing and smell really lovely!

A matte lipstick or liquid lipstick is essential as you don't want to be topping up all day and re applying your fav lipstick! I love Makeup Revolutions Velvet Matte Lip Lacquers, their colour range is amazing! Wet wipes are also a MUST as you need to stay germ free all weekend and they are great for removing makeup, food spillages, cleaning your hands after using the portaloos, everything really, they are so convenient.

BB creams are my fav for when I want/need some coverage but I don't want to be caked in makeup especially if its hot weather. This Garnier BB cream has an spf of 30 also so will protect your face from the sun and premature ageing.

And the last two things on my festival essentials list are Wellies. Obviously as you can't festival without them, and these starry wellies from The Welly Shop are perfect! And a Disposable Camera, As much as I'd love to take a good camera to a festival it would be rather silly as its not totally safe and with everyone dancing around it could get broken, so a cheap disposable camera is the best way to capture your fav moments from your festival weekend without worrying too much about it getting damaged. And who doesn't love looking though old photos on actual photo paper not just on Facebook or Instagram.

I hope this post has helped anyone packing for a weekend away and let me know in the comments if you've been to a festival this year or are going to one soon!